Majlis Panel Opposes UNESCO Document

The chairman of Majlis Education Commission said his panel opposes the enforcement of the UN Education 2030 plan, which has recently emerged as a major bone of contention between the government and its conservative opponents.

"We believe that in line with the views of the Leader of Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei] on the 2030 document…, its implementation should be prevented," Mehdi Zahedi said in a talk with ICANA on Sunday.

The initiative has been proposed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to help achieve one of the 17 goals set in the Sustainable Development Agenda to be reached by 2030.

It aims to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all."

The United Nation's 193 member-states unanimously agreed on the 2030 Agenda in August 2015 and committed themselves to mobilizing domestic resources to help attain the goals.

It was signed under President Hassan Rouhani, whose mandate was extended for another four years in last month's election. His conservative opponents denounced UNESCO's plan as being in "conflict with Islamic values" and have seized upon it to undermine the credibility of his administration.

The beleaguered president vowed late last month that his government will safeguard Islamic values and cultural norms during the implementation of the global initiative. Ayatollah Khamenei, however, publicly rejected the document for promoting and dictating "decadent western culture" on Wednesday.

"In this country, the basis is Islam and the Qur'an. This is not a place where the faulty, corrupt and destructive western lifestyle will be allowed to spread. It makes no sense to accept such a document in the Islamic Republic," the Leader told a gathering.

"How can a so-called international body which is under the influence of big powers have the liberty to assign duties for countries with different histories, cultures and civilizations?"